‘Breaking Bad’ Negotiations Hinder Show’s Future

The folks at AMC, barely through the protracted negotiations that delayed the start of “Mad Men,” are embroiled in another tough set of talks, this time concerning their acclaimed series “Breaking Bad,” starring Bryan Cranston. According to a report in the L.A. Times, negotiations are “tense” due to the network’s request to cut costs and decrease the number of episodes in next year’s fifth season from 13 to eight. There’s even a fear AMC could lose the show to another network. “Talks seemed to reach an impasse last week when Sony sent feelers to at least three other cable networks about taking “Breaking Bad” should an agreement with AMC fall through, said two people with knowledge of the matter who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the talks,” the LA Times reported. Despite the differences, the paper added that both sides remain hopeful of reaching an agreement. Indeed, the New York Times indicated that the danger of AMC losing one of its original programming jewels (“Mad Men” and “The Walking Dead”) to another network had dimmed. “Had things gotten tense 10 days ago?” the NY Times quotes a source familiar with the negotiations. “Yes, but things seem to have evened out.”